administration in social work

Methods used by those who have administrative responsibility to determine organizational goals for a social agency or other unit; acquire resources and allocate them to carry out a program; coordinate activities toward achieving selected goals; and monitor, assess, and make necessary changes in processes and structure to improve effectiveness and efficiency. In social work, the term is often used synonomously with management. For social work administrators, implementation of administrative methods is informed by professional values and ethics with the expectation that these methods will enable social workers to provide effective and humane services to clients. The term also applies to the activities performed in a social agency that contribute to transforming social policy into social services. See also management tasks.